Study finds Violent Crime Rising in US Cities: A new report indicates that violent crime in several major U.S. cities is on the rise. Wesley Bruer of CNN reports that the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) released its midyear violent crime survey on Monday, showing 307 more homicides, over 1,000 more robberies, nearly 2,000 more aggravated assaults and more than 600 non-fatal shootings in 2016 compared to the same period last year. The Chicago Police Department reported the most significant increase in homicides, with 316 so far this year, a 48% increase over last year, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported 110 homicides so far this year, compared to 85 in 2015, and San Jose's homicides more than doubled. The MCCA is made up of police chiefs and sheriffs representing the 68 largest law enforcement agencies in the country. The latest survey included data reported from 51 law enforcement agencies.
'Purge' Murder Suspect will face Death Penalty: Prosecutors announced Tuesday that they will seek the death penalty against an Indiana man who murdered three people during a four-day crime spree two months ago. WISH-TV reports that Johnathan Cruz is accused of murdering three men between May 12 and May 15 in what prosecutors allege were "killings for sport" inspired by "The Purge," a 2013 film in which the government allows its citizens to commit any crime without fear of prosecution on one night each year. During the crime spree, Cruz and another man also committed armed robbery. He was arrested May 16 on separate charges of criminal confinement, intimidation and battery. Cruz faces a total of 17 charges, including nine counts of murder, as well as a gang enhancement.
CT Murderer Resentenced: A man on Connecticut's death row has had his sentence commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday because of last year's ruling by the state Supreme Court to abolish the death penalty. The AP reports that Joshua Komisarjevsky, was given six consecutive life terms for the 2007 home invasion murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11. Komisarjevsky and another man, Steven Hayes, beat Hawke-Petit's husband, Dr. William Petit Jr., and left him bound in the basement before terrorizing Hawke-Petit and her daughters for hours. Komisarjevsky and Hayes sexually assaulted them, then tied Hayley and Michaela to their beds and set the house on fire. The sisters died of smoke inhalation and Hawke-Petit was strangled to death by Hayes. Dr. Petit survived the horror and escaped from the basement while the house was on fire. Hayes, who was also on death row for the murders, was resentenced last month. Komisarjevsky's resentencing makes him the third Connecticut death row inmate to have his sentence changed to life in prison since the state's high court ruled it unconstitutional last year. There are eight other condemned inmates awaiting resentencing.
Convicted Murderer Suspected in Cellmate's Death: A California inmate serving time for murder has been named as a suspect in the death of his cellmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. Brian Rokos of the Press Enterprise reports that Joseph David Dorsey, 31, is suspected of slaying Jason M. Christner, 39, who was found unresponsive in his cell last Thursday and pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later. Christner had been serving time for burglary as well as additional time for in-custody convictions of battery and assault with a deadly weapon. Dorsey is in prison for the 2012 strangling death of his girlfriend, Christine Osborn-Stewart, 47, for which he was sentenced 56 years to life in 2013. He is currently in the prison's Administrative Segregation Unit pending investigation into Christner's death.
'Purge' Murder Suspect will face Death Penalty: Prosecutors announced Tuesday that they will seek the death penalty against an Indiana man who murdered three people during a four-day crime spree two months ago. WISH-TV reports that Johnathan Cruz is accused of murdering three men between May 12 and May 15 in what prosecutors allege were "killings for sport" inspired by "The Purge," a 2013 film in which the government allows its citizens to commit any crime without fear of prosecution on one night each year. During the crime spree, Cruz and another man also committed armed robbery. He was arrested May 16 on separate charges of criminal confinement, intimidation and battery. Cruz faces a total of 17 charges, including nine counts of murder, as well as a gang enhancement.
CT Murderer Resentenced: A man on Connecticut's death row has had his sentence commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday because of last year's ruling by the state Supreme Court to abolish the death penalty. The AP reports that Joshua Komisarjevsky, was given six consecutive life terms for the 2007 home invasion murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11. Komisarjevsky and another man, Steven Hayes, beat Hawke-Petit's husband, Dr. William Petit Jr., and left him bound in the basement before terrorizing Hawke-Petit and her daughters for hours. Komisarjevsky and Hayes sexually assaulted them, then tied Hayley and Michaela to their beds and set the house on fire. The sisters died of smoke inhalation and Hawke-Petit was strangled to death by Hayes. Dr. Petit survived the horror and escaped from the basement while the house was on fire. Hayes, who was also on death row for the murders, was resentenced last month. Komisarjevsky's resentencing makes him the third Connecticut death row inmate to have his sentence changed to life in prison since the state's high court ruled it unconstitutional last year. There are eight other condemned inmates awaiting resentencing.
Convicted Murderer Suspected in Cellmate's Death: A California inmate serving time for murder has been named as a suspect in the death of his cellmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. Brian Rokos of the Press Enterprise reports that Joseph David Dorsey, 31, is suspected of slaying Jason M. Christner, 39, who was found unresponsive in his cell last Thursday and pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later. Christner had been serving time for burglary as well as additional time for in-custody convictions of battery and assault with a deadly weapon. Dorsey is in prison for the 2012 strangling death of his girlfriend, Christine Osborn-Stewart, 47, for which he was sentenced 56 years to life in 2013. He is currently in the prison's Administrative Segregation Unit pending investigation into Christner's death.
CT Murderer Resentenced:
Do we have so little morality and courage today
that we cannot execute the murderer? the torturer?
the man who for hours torments and rapes an 11 year old girl?
From Revolutionary minister John Lathrop:
THESE capital punishments are doubtless very disagreeable 〈◊〉—to put an end to the life of one's 〈◊〉 fellow-men is shocking.
THE tender seeings of human nature strongly, strongly plead
in behalf of the criminal, and beseech the judges if possible
to shew mercy. But should any degree of tenderness—should the
strongest inclination to mercy—or should all the horrors of an execution
influence a conduct so contrary to the law of God? When the Lord of heaven
has declared he shall surely die, and moreover added, thou shalt not pity him,
but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood. Num 35;31, Deut 19:10,13
THE shedding〈◊〉of innocent blood cannot be allayed, but by the death of the guilty!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There is no evading this law where the murder is indublicably proved
—no liberty to acquit the criminal—God, the supreme legislator, has
given the magistrate no authority to alter or dispense with his law, or
mitigate the punishment in any manner or degree. He shall surely be put
to death! Gen 9:6, Prov 6:17
AND if that punishment is not inflicted, innocent blood will cry from the
ground—it will cry for vengeance to fall not only on the murderer wherever
he is, but upon those, whoever they are, that divert the course of justice,
and cause the murderers to go unpunished.